[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 139 (Wednesday, December 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S12049]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        CWO DAVID H. GARDNER JR.

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor CWO David H. 
Gardner Jr., an Iowa native who was killed when his UH-60 Black Hawk 
helicopter went down near Fort Hood in Texas. A 1991 graduate of Mason 
City High School in Mason City, IA, David Gardner served as a 
helicopter pilot assigned to the 4th Infantry Division's A Company, 2nd 
Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment. He had previously served in the Iowa 
National Guard before going on active duty in the 1990s. From October 
of 2003 until the following April, Chief Warrant Officer Gardner served 
his country in Iraq.
  I ask my colleagues in the Senate and all Americans to join me today 
in paying tribute to Chief Warrant Officer Gardner. My deepest sympathy 
goes out to his friends and family, and particularly the 7-year-old 
daughter he leaves behind. It is my hope that she grows up knowing of 
the tremendous sacrifice her father made for his country and the deep 
appreciation America has for him. Chief Warrant Officer Gardner will 
always be honored as a hero who gave his life for his country, and he 
will be greatly missed.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
the text of a letter be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                     The Secretary of Defense,

                                Washington, DC, November 19, 2004.
     Hon. Bill Frist,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Leader: The Department of Defense takes great 
     pride in its longstanding and rich tradition of support to 
     the Boy Scouts of America. Accordingly, the Department of 
     Defense supports the proposed Concurrent Resolution 
     expressing the sense of Congress that the Department of 
     Defense should continue to exercise its statutory authority 
     to support the activities of the Boy Scouts of America, in 
     particular the periodic national and world Boy Scout 
     Jamborees.
           Sincerely,
     Donald Rumsfeld.

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